whereabouts and activities are less likely to use alcohol and marijuana or sell drugs.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland, was based on children living in Baltimore's public housing. The report found that parents who set limits and talk with their children about their concerns reduced a child's likelihood of risky behaviour.

Researchers surveyed 383 children, ages nine to 15, over a four-year period beginning in 1993.

In the first six months of the study, about 1 percent of the children who were closely supervised by their parents sold drugs, compared to 10 percent of those who had little parental supervision.

Eighteen months later, however, five percent of children who received close parental supervision said they were dealing drugs, while the percentage of children who had far less supervision and were selling drugs rose only slightly, to 12 percent.

Researchers concluded that as a child grows older, the influence of friends and peer pressure becomes even greater.

DRUGS DGS